Apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen

Abstract

A simply configured cooling mechanism for an apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen is disclosed. The configuration makes it possible to freely select the type of heat exchanger, without any restrictions, in order to improve cooling efficiency. In particular, a heat exchanger for cooling deionized water in a deionized water tank, which contains an electrolytic cell, is installed outside the tank. An inlet to the heat exchanger is connected to a deionized water flow outlet from the tank that is below the level of the deionized water the tank by a pipe, and an outlet from the heat exchanger to tank is connected to a deionized water flow inlet that is positioned in the tank below the deionized water flow outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen having a deionized water tank containing an electrolytic cell therein, wherein a heat exchanger for cooling deionized water in the deionized water tank is operatively connected to, and positioned outside of, the deionized water tank, wherein an inlet to the heat exchanger is connected to an outlet of the deionized water tank, said tank outlet being adapted for location below a level of deionized water in an upper portion of the deionized water tank, and wherein an outlet from the heat exchanger is connected to an inlet of the deionized water tank, said tank inlet being below the tank outlet in a lower portion of the deionized water tank, said tank outlet guiding out deionized water at the upper portion of the deionized water tank into the heat exchanger, and said tank inlet supplying cooled deionized water from the heat exchanger into the lower portion of the deionized water tank.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cover on the deionized water flow outlet on the interior of the deionized water tank to prevent oxygen gas from flowing into the deionized water flow outlet. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tank inlet is adapted below the electrolytic cell for supplying cooled deionized water beneath the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen having a deionized water tank containing an electrolytic cell therein, wherein a heat exchanger for cooling deionized water in the deionized water tank is operatively connected to, and positioned outside of, the deionized water tank, wherein an inlet to the heat exchanger is connected to an outlet of the deionized water tank, said tank outlet being adapted for location below a level of deionized water in an upper portion of the deionized water tank, said tank outlet guiding out deionized water at the upper portion of the deionized water tank into the heat exchanger, and an outlet from the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the electrolytic cell in the deionized water tank to feed deionized water to the electrolytic cell.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a cover on the deionized water flow outlet on the interior of the deionized water tank to prevent oxygen gas from flowing into the deionized water flow outlet. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen comprising: an electrolytic cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, said chambers separated by an electrolyte membrane and located between electrode plates,   and a deionized water tank containing said electrolytic cell therein,   wherein the anode chamber and the cathode chamber each are formed as annular compartments being sealed on their inner circumferences and on their outer circumferences, such that the electrolytic cell is cylindrical having a cavity at the center thereof,   and wherein a heat exchanger for cooling is deionized water in the deionized water tank is positioned in the central cavity of the electrolytic cell.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cylindrical electrolytic cell comprises ring-shaped end plates at each end thereof, and a plurality of clamping means located outside the anode chamber and the cathode chamber on both the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side thereof, wherein the components of the anode chamber and the cathode chamber are clamped between the end plates by the clamping means. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cylindrical electrolytic cell comprises a ring-shaped electrolyte membrane, ring-shaped porous conductors provided on each side of the membrane, ring-shaped electrode plates provided on the outer sides of each of the porous conductors, an outer side closing member provided on the outer circumference side of each porous conductor, and an inner side closing member provided on the inner circumference side of the porous conductors. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 6 comprising a plurality of said cylindrical electrolytic cells stacked together. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a path for discharging generated oxygen gas is formed to connect the anode chambers and a port of a discharging of oxygen gas on the outer circumference side of the cylindrical electrolytic cell. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the central axis of the central cavity of the cylindrical electrolytic cell is arranged to align with the central axis of the deionized water tank. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the deionized water tank comprises a tank shell and a tank cover, wherein the cylindrical electrolytic cell is disconnectably mounted on the inner side of the tank cover, and the cylindrical electrolytic cell is arranged such that when the tank cover is fit on the tank shell, the cylindrical electrolytic cell is positioned inside the tank shell. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the deionized water tank comprises a tank shell and a tank cover, wherein the heat exchanger is disconnectably mounted on the inner side of the tank cover, and the heat exchanger is positioned such that when the tank cover is fit on the tank shell, the heat exchanger is positioned inside the tank shell.